Cocker Spaniel - advice needed

[Elli123]

I feel that my life has been taken over by my spaniel. I loved her dearly but is just a bit too much😂
she has no off switch. Despite an hours walk in the morning, a further 2 hour walk with the dog walker (all off lead) over lunch and several hours spent throwing balls in the garden she still wants more. The time commitment is unsustainable whilst working, looking after kids etc etc. she also follows me everywhere so find trying to do certain things really challenging.

what does everyone’s dog (if similar working breed) do during the day when they’re not sleeping or walking/ playing? Mine quite literally never just does nothing. I’ve tried ignoring her periodically( just continues to pester, looks what she can pinch to get a reaction), I’ve also tried every possible piece of enrichment ( lockers, puzzle toys etc) but all take, like 5 minutes then she’s looking for something else to do! I then end up feeling sorry for her looking bored and take her out again.

i would also be interested how long others walk their dogs? At the weekend she’s about 4 hours (over 2 walks) plus garden time with the ball.

shes amazing but just way too full on and i am well aware that she’s very spoilt! Shes my first dog (got her as a puppy), and yes I now appreciate working breeds can be full on but I am also aware that plenty of busy families have spaniels and can’t possibly commit the same time as I am doing.

she did go to puppy class and has basic obedience.

please help me regain my sanity 😱 (rehoming is not an option here).

You’ve had loads of great advice but I’d just say work on training and not because it sounds like she is a naughty dog but because it will help tire her out.

Sniffy walks too - 30 mins where she can sniff every blade of grass if she wants to.

I agree with others that it sounds like too much walking. The more you walk them, the fitter they get and then they need more walks!! And they get into a routine and expect walks at the same time of day.
I'm very sporadic with my cocker so take her for a walks at different times of day so she doesn't expect anything and sometimes if I'm too busy with work (WFM) then she doesn't get a walk at all. She does agility one day a week too.
They need to learn to settle. Mine would happily sleep all day whilst I work! And then the kids tire her out when they are back from school.

Thank you all very much for all your replies. They have been super helpful and given me lots to think about.

part of me thinks I’ve done this all wrong and would start differently if I was to do it again (I won’t🤣). I feel like I’ve got a mountain to climb at the moment. I guess it’s better than being a neglected dog anyway.

I will reread all the comments once I’ve got some more time. Initially, i will definitely reintroduce the settling and try to encompass some more training, maybe instead of one of the garden ball plays but I guess I can’t do it all at once. It’s not that I don’t believe what is said about the balls but think she would think her life was over if they were removed as she barely walks without a ball game just now.

i have been thinking she gets enough sleep already as she sleeps really well at night , 9-9 sometimes (maybe as she’s so exhausted from her day) plus a couple of hours split over the day but maybe some additional rest will make her more calm!!!

I will also spend some time on the recommended videos and books. Thanks again x

Stop carrying balls on your walks. Walk her through woods or somewhere really interesting. By the second day she will start to mooch and sniff into a much more relaxed walk.

IANAE but it sounds like she's over excited, and all her walks are high adrenaline. I read advice somewhere that only some walks should be super exciting, ball chasing, running around walks. Most should be more relaxed.

My dog is an absolute ball obsessed monster so he hardly ever gets one because he gets far too het up.